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2002/2/28 [Science/GlobalWarming] UID:23992 Activity:high |
2/27 Finally, some transparency http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/02/27/energy.task.force/index.html \_ Boring. We already know all this stuff. |
11/23 |
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www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/02/27/energy.task.force/index.html Environmentalists hailed the order as a "victory" for the American public's right to know. The American people have wanted to know who wrote the energy plan, and now we expect the information to reveal what went on behind closed doors at the task force meetings," he said. Cheney) from FindLaw LEGAL RESOURCES 39 Latest Legal News 40 Law Library 41 FindLaw Consumer Center Select a topic. Go The judge's order comes a few days after the General Accounting Office filed a lawsuit against the vice president, calling on his office to turn over a list of who the energy task force met with and the dates and times of those meetings. The Bush administration has argued that the GAO does not have the legal authority to obtain such information from the vice president, and has also argued that the vice president and the president should have the authority to meet with individuals in private to obtain "unvarnished advice" to formulate policy. The NRDC filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Energy Department in April 2001, asking for records including a list of which agency officials sat on the energy task force; Environmentalists have argued that the energy industry had undue influence over the Bush administration's energy plan. The task force, known as the Vice President's National Energy Policy Development Group, included Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham; Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Todd Whitman; District Judge Gladys Kessler ordered the Energy Department to turn over some of the information the NRDC is seeking by March 25. The remainder must be turned over no later than April 10. The NRDC, she noted, "is particularly concerned about current implementation of the task force's recommendations and their environmental implications, about the secrecy in which the task force operated" and the participation of non-governmental officials who were consulted in developing the task force's recommendations. Neither the Energy Department nor the vice president's office returned calls seeking comment Wednesday. Find 51 Back to the top 2003 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. |